Tipped as the successor to Maninder Singh, Sagi Lakshmi Venkatapathy Raju, was a left- arm spinner who played 28 Tests and 53 ODIs for India. He was drafted into the national team on the bac...Full profile

Tipped as the successor to Maninder Singh, Sagi Lakshmi Venkatapathy Raju, was a left- arm spinner who played 28 Tests and 53 ODIs for India. He was drafted into the national team on the back of a successful 1989/90 domestic season in which he picked up 32 wickets.

He made his Test debut against New Zealand, taking 3/86 in Christchurch. He was also sent in to bat as a night watchman in the first innings. He frustrated the Kiwis by batting for more than two hours while India lost six wickets at the other end. He was the third highest scorer in India's total of 164. Raju was also part of the Indian team that visited England in 1990. However, his tour ended prematurely after he broke the knuckle of his left hand while facing up to Courtney Walsh in a tour game against Gloucestershire.

In his third Test match in Chandigarh, he rattled the Sri Lankans on a pitch that provided some assistance to the spinners. He took 6/12, including a spell of 5 wickets for 2 runs as Sri Lanka got bowled out for just 82. Raju was adjudged the Man of the Match as India won the game by an innings and 8 runs. Considering the fact that his selection for the game was a last minute decision, Raju's achievement was mighty impressive.

Raju featured in two World Cups for India, in 1992 and 1996. Despite producing some good performances over the years, Raju could never warrant a regular place in the national team. He was a very effective bowler in home conditions but failed to emulate the same success on foreign soil. In 16 Tests at home, he bagged 71 wickets while he could only manage a total of 22 wickets in 12 games outside India.

His best performance in a Test series came against the West Indies in 1994. He picked up 20 wickets in the 3-match series, including two 5-wicket hauls. However, Raju's performances took a downward curve after the series. In the next 7 Tests, he could only take 12 wickets and he last appeared for India in the famous Kolkata Test against the Australians in 2001.

Raju continued to play domestic cricket and had a great 1999/00 Ranji season. He took 52 wickets as Hyderabad reached the final of the tournament. He took retirement from first-class cricket in 2004. Raju also took 63 ODI wickets during his career.

He was the South Zone representative in the selection panel when India won the inaugural World T20. He has also served as the Vice-President of the Hyderabad Cricket Association. Raju has also worked as a spin consultant with associate nations like Nepal and UAE as well.